Dishonesty, Inexperience, Iraq
By California Yankee Posted in 2008 | Barack Obama | Hillary Clinton | John McCain — Comments (3) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
Gallup finds an important difference in the negative perceptions voters hold of the three remaining presidential candidates -- and its good news for McCain:
The most prevalent criticisms leveled against Obama and Clinton are all personal in nature: trustworthiness, likability, experience, and family connections. By contrast, the top criticisms of McCain are all more policy oriented: Iraq, associations with Bush, and being a Republican.
Gallup Poll Editor in Chief, Frank Newport, summarizes why Americans don't want a particular candidate elected president in the following video:
Hillary: Don't Trust Her, Reservations About Bill, and Likability
The most prominent reason given by those opposed to Clinton being elected president is not trusting her -- mentioned by 24%. However, the 18% saying they don't want Bill Clinton back in the White House and the 16% saying they don't like Hillary Clinton rank a fairly close second and third, respectively.
Obama: "Not Qualified"
Nearly 4 in 10 of those who least want to see Obama elected (39%) say they believe he is "inexperienced" or "not qualified" to be president. All other explanations are much less frequently mentioned. The reason cited second most frequently is trustworthiness, mentioned by 15% of those opposed to his becoming president. However, nearly as prevalent (12%) as an explanation for not wanting Obama elected is the belief that he is a Muslim.
McCain: Iraq, Bush, and the GOP
Those who least want to see McCain elected president are most likely to cite his position on the Iraq war (27%), his similarity with President Bush (25%), or the fact that he is a Republican (23%). In line with these policy-oriented reasons for opposing him, an additional 8% say they "disagree with his views on most issues."
Like President Reagan, people might disagree with McCain on specific issues, but they like and trust him.
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Dishonesty, Inexperience, Iraq 3 Comments (0 topical, 3 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
The problem for McCain is that his perceived negative factors are things over which he has no control: Iraq and being a Republican.
He can't change being a Republican.
And as a candidate, there's nothing he can do to fix Iraq. At any time between now and Election Day, al-Sadr or al-Qaeda or Iran or whoever can do things in Iraq that grab the headlines and turn more Americans off to the Iraq war. Then the public will vent their frustration with the course of the war on him, and vote for Obama to end our involvement once and for all.
McCain has staked his candidacy on Iraq. But what happens in Iraq is out of his hands. Unlike Hillary's perceived untrustworthiness or Obama's perceived lack of competence, McCain can't fix his Iraq problems with a speech.
So McCain just has to pray that Iraq stays fairly quiet till Election Day.
You misunderstand. Yes, McCain is a Republican. But he's John McCain.
The problem isn't that people have an irrational fear of the word "Republican", it's that the Republican "brand name" has been damaged. But John McCain is his OWN brand name. That's why he's got an excellent chance of winning when others didn't.
And frankly, that's why so many other Republicans didn't like him. He wasn't part of the club. Oh sure, he's got "sins" here or there, but pretty much every candidate had similar "sins", they just weren't held as accountable for their "sins" because they were one of the club. McCain was, and still is in some circles, viewed as an intruder.
But it's that very thing that makes him electable.
And as for Iraq, yes, things could turn sour, but even if they do, I'm not convinced that it'll destroy McCain. If we are winning the war, and then we have a bad month or two, it might actually drive people toward McCain because he's credited with getting us in to the improved position in the first place. I'm not saying this would happen, I'm saying that it's possible and Iraq isn't necessarily the death of McCain.
In 1972, McGovern ran on getting us out of Vietnam. At the time, public support for the war was at it's low point. It was MUCH more unpopular. He won one state. Obama is too smooth and likable to be a McGovern, but that doesn't mean he'll be able to win on the same platform.
"I ain't never votin' fo another Democrat so long as I can draw breath! I'll vote for a dog first!" - Leola Thomas
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This Am. Anticipating the Sunday Talk Heads. This list will surely come up.
What I am observing these past weeks, is a down turn in interest. Appears the Sping wx has superseded the pols.
The General election is so far off that the candidates might just slip by with thier agendas, unnoticed by the public.
Redstate, et al, surely needs to continue the good work.
As to the McCain positions... His supporters, conservatives and the undecided,(wannabe GOPers), need to go to his Congressional Site, make known thier Issue Concerns, opinions and advise. This seems to get to the more Influential staffers, and make the McCain policy shifts.
As to old Hillary... She appears to be enjoying the last days of her effort. Almost as though she knows the inevitable...We need to HELP HER... She has old Bill on the stump, he looks tired. Perhaps the Clintons are fading...
As to Obama... Let the Redstate folks beware. Check out his funding sources. Geo Soros and Moveon are still in there. Obama will quietly perservere to the convention. Thereon he will make whatever deal is necessary to secure the Nomination.
I sincerely hope the devilish details are know to all prior to that scenario.
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